A midnight jogger rang police four times on his mobile saying he was on his way to commit a murder.

Frantic Frank Smith, 20, said he was going to kill his ex-girlfriend's new partner, and he gave police the address where he would do it, a court was told.

Teesside Crown Court was played the tape, and the 999 operator at police HQ was heard calmly advising Smith: "Only jog backwards, they're not worth it."

Smith made three more calls saying he was ten minutes and five minutes from the address in Hartlepool and then rang saying he had arrived and that the police had missed him.

When two officers arrived they found no-one at home. When they searched the garden of the house in Ibrox Grove, Smith stood up in the undergrowth clutching a two-and-a-half-foot piece of wood, said prosecutor Anthony Dunne.

He refused to drop it and fled when a PC squirted CS spray.

As police cars swamped the area he tripped over a kerb and two officers restrained him. The court heard he was abusive and aggressive, and he kicked them both.

Stephen Constantine, defending, said Smith, who had no previous convictions, set out to make a point without realising the seriousness of his actions.

The court was told he later made three attempts on his life, including walking into the sea near his home where he was rescued by coastguards.

Smith, of Lealholm Terrace, Blackhall Rocks, Hartlepool, admitted making threats to kill Stephen Potter, the boyfriend of his ex Tara Braham, on July 17, having an offensive weapon and two assaults on police. He was given a two-year community rehabilitation order.

Judge Michael Taylor told him: "I really should send you to prison for six months. The police officers of this area are busy enough without having to deal with idiots like you.